Ran my first 5k today

[Jarick]

I'm not a runner by any stretch but always wanted to try running a 5k, so I signed up to run one with my 10 year old. She's a great runner for her age and has done a couple 5k's and usually is near the top of her school. She was bummed that she'd have to wait up for me but was kind of excited to get me running.

Luckily some of her friends were in the race so I let her run ahead with them. She ended up finishing in about 31 minutes, while my sorry ass got across in 44 minutes. I was happy to beat 45 minutes, but halfway through the race my left foot went completely numb and I had to walk for close to a mile until some feeling got back into it. Hopefully that doesn't mean I'm going to have a heart attack or anything.

So I bought myself a Garmin watch and decided to properly train for another 5k later this summer. Planning to run 3-4 times per week and then see if I can't finish in under 40 minutes. If it sticks I'm going to invest in a nice treadmill so we can run at home (my wife is a former competitive sprinter and really wants/needs to get back in shape).

 

[the swede]

Well done! Health is a priority and many doesn’t even take walks.

Me and wife walk (fast walking) almost every evening during spring/summer/fall. Feels so good when it becomes a habit.

 

[Mikael Dez]

Oh man I hated every second, every step running when I was in the Army lol. My best 2 mile time was 14:30 while my platoon was averaging 13 minutes. We’d run 3 times a week, 4 miles, 4 again, then 6 on Fridays. It really put a bad taste in my mouth about running at all.

Good luck to you and good on you bettering yourself! I doubt I could do a 5k right now lol

 

[Mongillo19]

I started running and training for a 5k last year but fell off as my knees really started to bother me. I think my best time was a 33 or 35 min 5k. Yes, I got running shoes and whatnot but it just didn't feel good, so now I do incline fast walks on the treadmill for my cardio post lift.

I would love to get back into running but I'm not sure if my body will like it. Anyway, point of my rambling is listen to your body. 3-4 times a week is admirable but make sure you start slow and maybe alternate running and walking as you adjust.

 

[paisleywookiee]

I'm not a runner by any stretch but always wanted to try running a 5k, so I signed up to run one with my 10 year old. She's a great runner for her age and has done a couple 5k's and usually is near the top of her school. She was bummed that she'd have to wait up for me but was kind of excited to get me running.

Luckily some of her friends were in the race so I let her run ahead with them. She ended up finishing in about 31 minutes, while my sorry ass got across in 44 minutes. I was happy to beat 45 minutes, but halfway through the race my left foot went completely numb and I had to walk for close to a mile until some feeling got back into it. Hopefully that doesn't mean I'm going to have a heart attack or anything.

So I bought myself a Garmin watch and decided to properly train for another 5k later this summer. Planning to run 3-4 times per week and then see if I can't finish in under 40 minutes. If it sticks I'm going to invest in a nice treadmill so we can run at home (my wife is a former competitive sprinter and really wants/needs to get back in shape).

That is fantastic! You gotta work yourself into it. I plan to get back at it this year, but I’m not gonna do a 5K until turkey trot season. I find it easier than running in this heat and humidity.

 

[Mongillo19]

That is fantastic! You gotta work yourself into it. I plan to get back at it this year, but I’m not gonna do a 5K until turkey trot season. I find it easier than running in this heat and humidity.

I tried the couch to 5k program last summer and it was .....okay? I think I just suck at running

 

[paisleywookiee]

I tried the couch to 5k program last summer and it was .....okay? I think I just suck at running

It’s hard, man. Honestly, I much prefer walking and/or elliptical machine. However, there’s without a doubt a big sense of satisfaction when finishing a 5K or whatever.

 

[HotRats]

Well done @Jarick!!! and running with your daughter is really cool. I do it sometimes with my older one.

Beware that running is addictive

I love running, especially trail running or at least on hills. Running trails is what I like the most but takes a bit more time and planning than simply putting on my shoes and run.

I'm lucky that I live in a hilly area close to the mountains, there are no flat routes here.

I've done few street 10k and 21k in the past and a couple of years ago did a 25k trail run with 1600mt D+ just to prove myself.

I'm not really into competitions, speed or personal records anymore.

Nowadays I simply enjoy running and, depending on available time and injuries , I try to run my favourite 10k routes up and down our hills twice a week and to throw in some longer trails runs or some mountain bike. Sometimes I do both things together, ride uphill to some trails, leave the bike somewhere in the woods, run, go back home down hill.

 

[Jarick]

I used to get really bad shin splints but haven’t yet. We shall see. Now I’m trying to focus on not taking big steps so I’m not putting as much shock on my knees, and I am running more on softer trails than pavement.

 

[Mongillo19]

I used to get really bad shin splints but haven’t yet. We shall see. Now I’m trying to focus on not taking big steps so I’m not putting as much shock on my knees, and I am running more on softer trails than pavement.

I found rolling out my legs with a foam roller helped a lot with aches and pains

 

[Mongillo19]

It’s hard, man. Honestly, I much prefer walking and/or elliptical machine. However, there’s without a doubt a big sense of satisfaction when finishing a 5K or whatever.

Yeah for sure. It doesn't help these days where any "fitness influencer" makes running seem like a breeze. Then your like "why can't I live up to these unrealistic expectations"

 

[FuzzyAce]

I used to run a 10K in 35 minutes when I was 19. I'd probably puke my ass off now.
My best ever mile was 4:30. I loved running but just got into other sports like tennis and volleyball, then inevitably music.

 

[PLX]

Not sure how far I'd run for $5K..

Maybe about 2 blocks.

 

[jaxadam]

Good for you man, that sounds like a great bonding experience for you and your daughter.

Don’t worry about times right now. You’ve gotta start somewhere. I’d suggest checking out a running store that can calibrate your stride and get you in the right set of shoes. That can really make or break your experience.

 

[Mongillo19]

Good for you man, that sounds like a great bonding experience for you and your daughter.

Don’t worry about times right now. You’ve gotta start somewhere. I’d suggest checking out a running store that can calibrate your stride and get you in the right set of shoes. That can really make or break your experience.

Absolutely! I went to FleetFeet and they did the calibration and helped me a pick a shoe that was best for me. I have some goofy ankles so honestly I would have put myself at a much greater chance of injury had I not gotten checked out.

And it was no extra charge! No reason not to do it imo

 

[HotRats]

I used to run a 10K in 35 minutes when I was 19. I'd probably puke my ass off now.
My best ever mile was 4:30. I loved running but just got into other sports like tennis and volleyball, then inevitably music.

That's some serious speed, man.

 

[laxu]

I used to run 10 km almost every day. No idea about time, I'm definitely not the fastest runner out there. Then I just got lazy for several years. I tried doing some 5 km runs last summer and it sucks so much that you have to start clawing your way back up. But once you've had it, it's easier to get it back than starting from scratch.

I just got myself new running shoes so hopefully this summer will get back into running. There's some nice forest routes nearby.

 

[Jarick]

Last week I bought a Garmin Vivoactive to replace my Fitbit and give me some motivation. It's so much better in terms of capturing and presenting data. The battery lasts several days instead of dying in 12 hours like my old Apple Watch.

I'm starting week 1 of a couch to 5k program through the Garmin, and if I make it through four weeks, I'm going to treat myself to some fitted running shoes.

If I get through all 12 weeks of the program and run another 5k, I'm going to get a decent treadmill for the house so I can train in the winter, plus the rest of the family can use it.

Side note, I looked up the results of the 5k and my 10 year old actually finished in 35 minutes and change. But that was the fastest time for any girl under 12 which was cool! There was a 7 year old who ran the 5k in about 30 minutes

 

[HotRats]

Side note, I looked up the results of the 5k and my 10 year old actually finished in 35 minutes and change. But that was the fastest time for any girl under 12 which was cool! There was a 7 year old who ran the 5k in about 30 minutes

Looks like a good performance by your daughter.

And about the 7 yo:
every one of us is different and some people are simply fast (or slow) by nature.
Training can improve speed (and endurance) a lot but we all have our "inner speed limit" set by our genes, age and history.

I've never been fast and it took me some time to understand that, to understand that looking at other runners data is pointless because you almost certainty don't know the "inner speed limit" of the other runners and how close or far they are from their limit.

It pretty common that you go to a 5k or 10k with a bunch of friends and there's someone that never or almost never trains (while you follow your 3 day's a week plan) and he/she easily match your performance with a smile. wtf?

In the end the equation faster = better is a false equation like in the guitar world.

bottom line: don't look at other's data and focus on yourself.

 

[Devin]

Nice job kimg